After buying some ingredients for dinner; it was calm the whole time, but I was thinking about how to tell Jin what happened "That Night" after all, I can't tell the whole truth, he will think me a lunatic. (Though I don't want to lie either because Jin's trust is too precious for me to break.)
As Jin took the shopping bags to the kitchen, I went to the bathroom upstairs to clean my appearance. Opening the faucet, the water drops run down my freckled face and my neck, the chill feels great for my troubled mind, I take my dark curly hair to make a messy braid while looking up to the mirror; I see my violet eyes, though they are surprisingly dark, almost black unless the light hit them right.
I always cherished my eyes, they made me appear unique in the middle of so many common people, as well that for some reason my eyes reflect unwavering courage so others don't notice that in reality, I feel fear. Is great to sometimes appear more self-confident to those around you. Many times they ask for my opinion thanks to my reliance and, I enjoy helping others, in a sense, it makes me whole.
"Czarina, come help me a second please." that breaks me off my musing and I go downstairs into the kitchen to find Jin stirring different pots on the stove while the alarm of the oven goes on and off (Didn't know I had taken that long.)
"Sorry, can you continue stirring, don't let it burn."
"OK, is that the marvellous cake?"
"Yup, it's done, I only need to let it cool while we eat the stew."
The entire table became filled with different kinds of food: white stew, pan-seared tilapia in tomato basil sauce, mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. It was quite an impressive banquet. Jin had a mother hen disposition when it comes to taking care of me.
I helped to put the plates and the drinks, Jin looked happy while serving the food.
"Well, what ya think? I tried to make it healthy with the vegetables but like always your fond for unhealthy just shows."
"Haha, is not my fault that I never gain an ounce no matter what I eat, you're jealous admit it." I laugh sarcastically, trying to rile him up.
"Oh yes, oh great queen of beauty, my mistake, should I prepare a triple fudge with caramel sauce?" He questions with a shitty eat grin that made me laugh really hard.
"No thanks, that definitely would give a heart attack to anyone."
"As you command, and now to eat."
I took a big bite of the tilapia and couldn't suppress my moan, it is so good that it has to be sinful.
"I'm relieved that you like it." Jin smiled so sweetly that it kind of looked like a proud parent whose child liked the food.
He waits just as I was drinking the glass of cola to say.
"Sooo...who is that man that is 'not yours'?" Jin asked as he cut his fish with tomato sauce with a knife.
"Ack, can't you give me a little warning? God." I choked and cough loudly, almost dropping the glass.
"Well, I came specifically to get the details, not to just satisfy your gluttony. So tell me how did you know him?" He smirks in the most diabolical way imaginable, which shows that he would not let me divert the conversation.
"Mmmhh...well I was at the roof of a building, just to watch the night sky. Then suddenly I saw this guy standing in the...there." I nearly said the railing but, if I say that, he is going to say that I'm crazy or that's a lie. Even I can't totally believe that a man was so gracefully standing in the most dangerous place.
"So it was a fated encounter, how romantic." Jin only swoons, not noticing my slip.
"Yes, I wouldn't call it a fated one but, yes he was quite impressive. You might not believe me but I can swear that he was extremely handsome, with long hair nearly touching the floor." I explained before eating a bite-sized part of the tilapia
"Oh, I have heard that some people had made a trend to have long hair, though I have never seen someone with that long." He commented before eating another bite-sized part, remembering the latest trends that he loves to follow.
"Yeah, it was an eye-catching thing but, that's not all he...well he..." I faltered, flustered in how to say the next part.
Jin took a sip of his cola before asking, "What? you can tell me, don't worry." Jin reassures me, absently caressing my shoulder.
"Ok, but promise me you will not laugh nor say I'm lying."
"Promise, so what is it?"
"He had red eyes." I truthfully responded, not wanting to lie to Jin about this specific thing that has possessed my mind.
Jin's eyes widened as he realized what I have just said.
"But, couldn't be eye contacts?" He tried to reason, and I don't blame him for it is really weird.
"I don't think so, they were so fierce and they looked like they could see right through me." I mused as I cut a bite-sized piece of my fish.
"Well, that certainly is weird. Now I understand why you didn't want to tell me, but don't worry I believe you, I know you can't lie as well, you suck at it." Jin tries to disperse the ambience from before, I feel truly grateful.
Jin started to eat the stew but I had to say the truth so I try to explain as hastily as possible in one breath. "Anyways, I didn't notice at the beginning but he had blood all over his hands and body, don't worry he didn't do anything harmful to me!"
He nearly spilt the stew on the table if it weren't for my quick reflexes I would have been drenched too. "Wait! he had blood on himself?! Oh my God, that man is dangerous! why was he-?"
"Jin, calm yourself. When he came near we talked a little bit and said that he was a hitman or something like that but I swear that he didn't do anything to me" I reassured Jin as he takes a deep breath then takes the glass of cola gulping it down.
"But what was he doing there?" He asks me with a nervous tone, seeking to warm his trembling hands with the stew plate before eating some bites off.
"He said that one of his targets was in that building, apart from that I don't really know much else." I try to sound calm; taking some of the steamed vegetables and chewing them slowly, just so I could have an excuse to not talk about that specific topic, It is fairly disturbing as it is.
Once Jin seemed calm enough he replied with a more joking demeanour "Wow, you sure know how to pick them. Only you Czarina." Taking a big scoop of mashed potatoes, he devours it in just seconds.
"Yeah, well if you want, after we finish eating, I can...show you...a portrait that I made just this morning." I was a little apprehensive about showing Jin the picture but I knew that if he saw it he will understand better.
"OK, let's finish quickly, and the cake we can leave until you show me this portrait." He replies smiling. "And I didn't pass an hour cooking for it to get spoiled." Joking, he piles more vegetables on my empty plate.
"Thank you again, as always you are my saviour. What would I do without you?"
I hug his arm as he starts to pet my head.
"You would be hungry for I´m the only one that can get you gluttony under control."
He tickles my sides as I laugh. At least I could get that out of my chest; the burden doesn't seem so terrible when one shares the troubles of one's mind. I eat with gusto the remaining food feeling better already.
Shoving stew on his mouth Jin exclaims, "This stew is so delicious if I say so myself." He just shoves another spoonful into his mouth and winks my way.
"Don't get so smug, Mr I'm-the-best-cook-ever," I mischievously smirk his way pushing him with my shoulder.
He giggles as we continue eating in relative peace.
* * *
While I cleaned the dishes, Jin put the final touches on the cake.
"Well, ready?" I asked anxiously.
"Yes, let's go" He takes my hand squeezing it.
We go up the stairs into my studio; my heart feels like it's about to burst out of my chest at any moment, taking a deep breath I open the door as Jin turns on the light, everything looks like this morning, with messy stains in the clothed floor and, in the centre, the hidden painting on the easel.
We got close to it, I take the linen cloth with both hands to uncover it, but I stopped just for a few seconds before taking it off in one pull.
"Aah!" I can hear Jin gasp, looking at the exposed picture.
"This....this is not what I expected at all. This is... the most beautiful person that I have ever seen in my entire life, how is...even possible that someone like this can even exist?... I can't believe it. Are you sure that you didn't imagine him?" Jin asks in pure disbelief, looking with round surprised eyes at every detail. I could perfectly understand the sentiment, for that face still makes me flush like a lovesick schoolgirl.
"I don't think I could ever visualise someone like that. Not even in my wildest dreams, I could make someone so perfect." I answer, taking into the piercing red eyes of the painting.
"I can safely say, that the fact that he is a hitman is of no importance at all with an appearance like this." Jin says half-joking, but I could detect the admiration that he felt for this person, a person that he doesn't even know.
We both knew that this was something that didn't belong to this world, but if so, where did he come from? None of us could answer such a complex enigma.
We stayed looking into the face of the one person who will change everything in our lives forever, we just didn't know how soon that would be.